title: Percutaneous needle biopsy of the lung.
abstract: A total of 160 percutaneous needle biopsies of pulmonary lesions were performed in 149 patients. Cytological and bacteriological examination of the biopsy material yielded clinically useful information in 87% of these patients. False-negative diagnoses were made in 6%, but there were no false-positive diagnoses. In most patients the biopsy obviated the need for a diagnostic thoracotomy. The principal complication of the procedure was pneumothorax, which occurred in 24% of patients; the pneumothorax, however, was usually very small and only two of these patients required treatment with a pleural drain. There were no deaths in the series. It is concluded that percutaneous needle biopsy is an effective and relatively safe method of obtaining diagnostic material from a pulmonary lesion.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000473:pathology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology